United Way of the Midlands Blog

Fundraising already is or is becoming a significant role/responsibility for nonprofit boards. For some organizations (arts and such), this has always been the case.  In the area of human services, however, a contribution of time was considered sufficient.

Let’s look at some data from the Board Source Nonprofit Governance Index 2010.  The report shares data from surveys of both nonprofit CEOs and board members. According to the report, nonprofit directors’ perspectives about board performance differ from most board members’.   Directors’ GPA for overall board performance was a  C+ though board members gave themselves a B.  More striking, directors gave their boards a grade of D in fundraising while board members gave themselves a C.

Let me climb on the soapbox– I don’t think time is enough when serving on a nonprofit board.  If one doesn’t think the organization is valuable enough to personally fund, then why should others think differently and choose to give to the organization?  If one’s time is that valuable, then auction some of it off and share the proceeds with the organization.

These are the sorts of conversations we are having during Blueprint for Leadership with our 2012 class, and  I’m sure there are folks who disagree with this opinion, and those opinions are welcome.  It is only in the course of conversation that we learn. Want to be part of the conversation? Comment here and let us know what you think!

Make plans to attend the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Summit on Tuesday, February 28th, 6:00-8:00 PM at Fairfield Central High School. There will be plenty of food and door prizes.

Did you know there’s an easy way to save up to $20 or more on each of your prescriptions? By partnering with FamilyWise, United Way of the Midlands is offering free prescription cards that can do just that.

United Way of the Midlands is part of a nationwide grassroots effort in conjunction with FamilyWize Community Service Partnership. The free cards are accepted at 95 percent of pharmacies nationwide, including all major chains. Using a card to save on prescriptions doesn’t require enrollment or personal information, so they’re ready to use the minute you receive one.

“It’s easy, like using a coupon. Just take it to your local pharmacist, and they’ll know exactly what to do to automatically apply all the savings available to you,” says Dan Barnes, co-chair of FamilyWise.

In 2010, 16 percent of Americans weren’t able to fill a prescription because of cost. That number is estimated at 21 percent for 2011, according to a study by USA Today/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health. There were also more than 100 million Americans in 2011 who were uninsured for all or part of the year– about 35 percent of the population.

FamilyWize is free, does not require enrollment or personal information and is available to anyone. Discounts vary depending on the drug, but the program can save up to 75 percent. Average savings are 35%. This program could be the difference between providing the community with necessary medications, or choosing to forgo it due to high costs.

To get your FamilyWize discount card visit www.FamilyWize.org.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month (CDHM).  The Division of Oral Health wants to make you aware of some of our upcoming activities and challenge you to take part in spreading the oral health message!

Every February, EdVenture Children’s Museum sponsors “Take Heart and Smile” month with activities centered around oral health and heart health.  Here is a list of the planned events for the month:

Tuesday, February 14, 2012, Family Night, (5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)

• “Fun and Games that lead to healthy teeth!” – DHEC’s Oral Health Division
• Free Dental Screenings – by Columbia Dental Society

Saturday, February 18, 2012:

• Heart dissections at Museum – USC Medical Students
• Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures Van (11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in front of museum)
• Heart Healthy/Oral Health Program in Bio-Investigations Lab (fluoride experiment and making toothpaste)

Saturday, February 25, 2012:

• Heart Healthy/Oral Health Program in Bio-Investigations Lab

In addition to these activities, the Columbia Marionette Theater is performing at schools across the state. Visit http://www.scdhec.sc.gov/health/mch/oral/puppet.htm for more information on the puppet show and how to sponsor one in your local area.

You can be involved in CDHM too!

• Volunteer at EdVenture (contact MK Jones for more information at kenyonm@dhec.sc.gov )
• Consider sponsoring the puppet show in your area.
• Donate your expertise and some toothbrushes to your local school or child care center.

Tell us how you’re getting involved this month to raise awareness for children’s dental health. Comment below!

United Way of the Midlands Palmetto Society is proud to announce that this year’s Humanitarian of the Year is John D. Baker.

John D. Baker

For this year’s award winner, giving back runs in the family. John D. Baker’s father, David, chaired the Columbia United Committees Fund Drive (the predecessor to the United Way). Shortly after attending a ceremony honoring his father, John got involved with March of Dimes, which he continues his involvement with to this day. In fact, he was awarded Elaine Whitelaw award, the highest honor ever bestowed on a March of Dimes volunteer at the March of Dimes National Volunteer Leadership conference.

John was one of the first supporters of the new Chabad Labovitch movement, which now runs a successful Jewish Day School in Columbia. He also served on the Richland County Public Library Board of Trustees, and after his chairmanship it was named Library of the Year in 2001 by the American Library Association. In 2000, John received the Trustee of the Year award given by the SC Association of Public Library Administrators. Later, John and his family helped bring Maurice Sendak, best known for Where the Wild Things Are, to the library.

John has been very involved in the United Way of the Midlands initiatives by helping to create funding for the Early Childhood Initiative, Vital Connections. He also formed Step Into Reading to raise money for books and put them into the hands of needy children. For all of his work with this program, John accepted the Corporate Citizen of the Year award from the Carolina’s chapter of Volunteers of America in 2001.

His achievements don’t stop there. The State of Israel Bonds in Columbia honored John in 2002 with the State of Israel’s Ben Gurion award for his years of service. John was also awarded the State’s highest honor, The Order of the Palmetto, by Gov. James Hodges. In addition, John received the Philanthropist of the Year award given by the state chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Without a doubt, John D. Baker is deserving of this year’s Humanitarian of the Year award. He is currently married to the former Marcie Stern, of Columbia, and they have one child, Gabrielle, who is a junior at George Washington University.

Invitations to the Humanitarian of the Year Awards dinner have been mailed to our Palmetto Society and other donors. For more information about this event, click here.

Guest post from Karen Oliver, the Senior Director of Community Resources at United Way of the Midlands

I love it when organizations I respect agree with me.  That is the case with the Council on Foundations.

Did you know that “Whether or not you receive compensation as a board member or trustee, you can be held personally liable for the actions or inactions of the organization.” Even if there are protections available from state or federal statues, board members are pretty vulnerable without directors and officers insurance. Laws may provide immunity, but proving that immunity and good faith effort can be expensive.   I wouldn’t join a board unless I was sure the organization had “D & O.”

Blueprint for Leadership is a program that discusses not only board responsibilities but also risk management.  It helps folks develop the questions they want answered BEFORE they join a board.  Check out the program, and check out this article about other warnings for volunteer board members that Blueprint will address. We’re meeting the new recruits next week!